Belmont/Gilford skates past Portsmouth hockey

LACONIA — The Belmont/Gilford boys hockey team jumped all over an injured Portsmouth High School squad on Wednesday and moved to 4-1 on the season.

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By BOB MARTIN

seacoastonline.com

By BOB MARTIN

Posted Jan. 3, 2013 at 2:00 AM

By BOB MARTIN

Posted Jan. 3, 2013 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

LACONIA — The Belmont/Gilford boys hockey team jumped all over an injured Portsmouth High School squad on Wednesday and moved to 4-1 on the season.

Belmont/Gilford controlled play throughout the contest, firing 36 shots on the Portsmouth goal and getting a hat trick from Jeremy D'Amour in a solid 6-0 Division III triumph at the Laconia Ice Arena. It was D'Amour's first game back from an injury.

In the first game back from the Christmas break, Portsmouth (1-4) was down an entire line and gave up four first-period goals. The Clippers never generated an attack, able to put only nine total shots on net — which included a sole shot in the third period.

"We had a lot of trouble getting shots on goal," said Portsmouth coach Al Brandano. "We had to go to a defensive play. We played defensively with a neutral zone trap in the second and third period because we ran out of steam. We wanted to take advantage of any mistakes and there weren't many."

Belmont/Gilford coach Jay Londer was happy that key players were starting to come back from injuries and that they were able to get the win. However, he added that in order to succeed his team has plenty to work on in the second half of the season.

"We need to condition," said Londer. "We need to skate our lanes better. Fundamentals. We've got to get back to the fundamentals. I'm happy that the break is over. The kids are on that hangover break, which always happens. They're up late and eating bad all week with Christmas and New Year's. We are ready for structure — the kids need structure. I think we'll look a lot better on Saturday."

The Bulldogs wasted no time getting on the scoreboard with an unassisted goal by Brogan Hurst within the first minute of the game. They had several more shots on goal and quickly were up 2-0 after a goal by D'Amour, assisted by Daryll Cahill. D'Amour kept the shots coming with four shots in a row, each deflected by Portsmouth goalie Brady Marchewka.

Marchewka did his best to keep the Clippers in the game, stopping 30 shots.

Belmont/Gilford was able to take advantage of a power play with a goal by Thomas Kuntz, assisted by Andrew D'Amour.

Minutes later, Portsmouth had a chance with its own power-play. The Clippers though didn't get on the attack and Jeremy D'Amour put in his second goal of the night, assisted by Caleb Drouin.

Portsmouth went into the second period trailing 4-0, but used a defensive mindset that held Belmont/Gilford scoreless in the period until under a minute left when Jeremy D'Amour scored on a breakaway for a 5-0 lead. The goal was assisted by Nikolai Fernandez and Max Desmarais.

The Bulldogs closed the scoring in the final period on a goal by Desmarais, assisted by Andrew D'Amour and Dylan Treamer.

Brandano was impressed by Jeremy D'Amour, saying that he has ultimate respect for the natural goal scorer. He said that he is a tough player to stop with a great eye, and he showed how good he can be against his team on Wednesday.

For the Portsmouth coach, the opening period was the difference maker.

"We had a hard time in the first period and if we lose the first period, we usually lose the game," said Brandano. "So, we need to work on that. Our guys need to do much better at being more focused. We talked about it in the locker room. If you take back the first period it's a 2-0 game."

Both teams are in action Saturday, with the Bulldogs playing host to Manchester West and the Clippers entertaining Berlin.